San Diego Gas and Electric forms Wildfire Safety Community Advisory Council

San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) recently formed the SDG&E Wildfire Safety Community Advisory Council, a group of local leaders who will provide recommendations and feedback on how the company can protect against wildfires.

“SDG&E has made significant investments over the past decade across our business to help prevent wildfires,” Caroline Winn, SDG&E’s chief operating officer, said. “We continue to develop and implement industry leading wildfire safety technologies, innovations, and programs. The formation of the Wildfire Safety Advisory Council is a continuation of our work in partnership with the best and brightest in our region to help make every day safer than the last for the communities we are privileged to serve.”

The group includes leaders from public safety, tribal government, business, nonprofit and academic organizations. This council will provide insight, ideas, expertise, and recommendations related to public safety, wildfire matters, community preparedness, regional coordination, the use of emerging technologies and best practices.

SDG&E has invested approximately $1.5 billion in wildfire prevention initiatives and technologies over the past decade, the company noted. These investments include building a network of 190 weather stations, installing fire-detecting cameras on mountaintops, contracting firefighting helicopters, replacing wood poles with steel poles and establishing partnerships with public safety agencies and communities.